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Debit and credit cards

Taking care of your credit and debit cards, chequebooks and PINs will help protect your financial accounts and prevent fraud.

The introduction of chip and PIN cards gives consumers extra protection against fraud. Instead of signing a paper receipt to verify a card payment, you enter a four digit PIN number, just like you would at a cash machine.

• If your card is lost or stolen, contact your card issuer immediately
• Always keep your card in your sight when making a payment. This will prevent counterfeiting or ‘skimming’ – where a corrupt employee copies the data on your card’s magnetic strip on to another before handing it back
• Ensure that receipts from card transactions are discarded carefully. Cut them up or shred them if possible to prevent ‘bin divers’ getting hold of information about you and your cards
• Check your card statements carefully. If you discover an unfamiliar transaction that you suspect to be fraudulent contact your card issuer immediately
• Never write down your PIN and never disclose it to anyone, even if they say they are from your card issuer or the police